ng, half regretful, yet not without a faint light of humor, at the nestling village in the lap of th

her bare head from the burning noonday sun. And here, so high up on t

there; its pages, wide open, had been turned face downward

f white lawn, as to the object of which there could be small enough doubt. She was working with the c

almost at once they dropped again to her work. It was only for a moment, however. She reached the end of her seam and began to fold t

mockery. "You were twenty-three when we came. You are twenty-eight now, and I am twenty-two. We'll soon be old maids. The folks down there," she went on, nodding at the village below, "will soon be

a responsive twinkle,

he replied, in the slow musical

ng their pay at Dirty O'Brien's. Besides, it doesn't alter facts at all. It won't take much more climbing to find ourselves right on the shelf, among the frying pans and other cooking utensils. I'm-I'm tired of i

e below and looked into her sister's p

?" sh

still laughing, but their expression did no

ght in Rocky Springs. "Now, listen to me," she went on, holding up a warning finger. "I'm just going to state my case right here and now, and-and you've got to listen to me.

any horror like that. But she believed that when it came to doing the things she wanted to do she could do them just as well, and deliberately, as any man. That she could think as well as any man. In fact, she didn't believe in the superiority of the male sex over hers. The on

a perfectly awful creature," she said, without the leas

k seriousness remain

ired when I'm through. Now listen. Kate Seton is a very kind an

so full of decision and character, eyed h

child," was

ike talking. It ma

that," returned the ot

and for a moment gazed speculativel

is now. That's by the way. Say, anyhow, it was so strong then that when these two found themselves alone in the world with their money, it was her idea to break through all

er sister as she turned aga

of a sob: "Five long years ago two lonely girls, orphans, set out from their conventional home in a New England village, after having sold it out-the home, not

" Kate's smile

dab her eyes. "It's emotion mussing up the

e swears nearly as much as you make out. I'll soon have to go

old cats who go there to slander each other in-in the name of religion.' That's what she'd have said. It's all different now. Gone is her love of adventure; gone is her defiance of convention; gone is-is h

nster farmer," put in Kat

e was a sort of helple

unded-uncommon, and so we used the expression." Suddenly she scrambled to her feet in undignified haste, and shook a small, clenched fist in her sister's direction. "Kate S

attack. She loved her irresponsible chatter, just as she loved the loyal heart that beat within the girl's slight, shapely body. Now she ca

e employ labor. Two creatures that call themselves men, and who possess the characters of-hogs, or tigers, or something pretty dreadful. We can afford to buy our clothes direct from New York or Montreal. Think of that. Isn't that due to independence? I admit the villagy b

ing available in trousers in the village-generally when the 'thing' is drunk. The only objects that haven't asked me to marry are our two hired men, Nick and Pete, and that's only because their wages aren't sufficient to get them drunk enough. As for you, most of the boys sort of stand in awe of you, wouldn't dare talk marrying to you even in the height of delirium tremens. The only men who have ever had courage to make any display in that direction are Inspector Fyles, when his duty brings him in the neighborhood of Rocky Springs, and a dypsomaniac rancher and artist, to wit, Charlie

a laughing protest, but Helen st

n of them as any village mother with an unwashed but growing family. You gossip with them and scandalize as badly as any of them, and, in your friendliness and charity toward them, I verily believe, for two cents, you'd go among the said unwashed offspring with a scrub-brush. What-what is coming to you, Kate? You-a man-hunter? No-no," she went on, with a hopeless shake of her pretty head, "'tis no use talking. The big, big spi

n at the slight figure of a man coming toward t

somaniac rancher. A symbol, a symbol of the bonds which

ing man. She had eyes only fo

York hairdresser in the village. You, with your great gray eyes, your charming little nose and cupid mouth. You, with your beautiful new frock, only arrived from New York two days ago, and which, by the way, I don't think you ought to wear sprawling upon dusty ground. You-a cabbage! It just robs

depth of motherly tenderness in her heart, and just now th

d. She smiled amusedly in her sister's direction. T

end will be the penitentiary,

ckly, and her eyes sud

?" she questi

shru

s don't make things look much-different. Say, Kate, O'Brien told me the other day

of Kate's eyes. A faint sigh,

ake about Charlie. I'm-sure. With all his failings Charlie's no whisky-r

n, and one firm hand grasped the soft flesh o

They're threatened every moment of their lives. The penalty is heavy, and when a man becomes a whisky-runner he has no intention of being taken-alive. Think of all t

girl's face disp

ith you, with that wonderful look of dog-like devotion in his eyes, while hanging on every word you uttered. I've thought of it all.

tled the other. Her eyes were cold, very cold, as she surveyed the sister to whom she was so devoted, and who could find it in her heart to t

ie. I understand the gentle heart that guides his every action, and I warn

few steps down the slope t